STOP TRIPPIN’ IT AIN’T YOUR MONEY

You know it trips me out when people feel as if they have the right to dictate how you spend your money, along with who and what you spend it on. Whether it is the person who decides to stand in line to buy the latest pair of Jordan tennis shoes for $185 or the person who decides to buy a new Bugatti (insert song here), you will always find someone who has something to say about how that person decided to spend their money.

Funny thing is, almost everybody who speaks on how another person spends their money, does so because they aren’t in the position to spend it.

Take for instance Andre Young, affectionately known as Dr. Dre.

The influential music producer, rapper and “Beats by Dre” headphone mogul recently gave the University of Southern California (U.S.C.) $70 million to create a new blended arts and business degree, along with longtime music partner Jimmy Iovine.

The U.S.C. Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation will accept 25 students in the fall of 2014 who will be asked to specialize in a broad array of multimedia and creative pursuits. Some of the required coursework will include, “Advanced Methods in 2-D and 3-D Visualization,” “Creativity,” “Design Theory” and “The Entrepreneurial Mindset.” More specifically, the program will focus on four core areas of study: “Arts and Entrepreneurship,” “Technology, Design and Marketability,” “Concept and Business Platforms” and “Creating a Prototype.”

This philanthropic contribution is stated to be the largest gift by a Black man to any college or university in history. Many people praised the contribution, but several people questioned it, like Dillard University President Walter M. Kimbrough.

Kimbrough penned an Op-Ed entitled “Why USC and not a Black College, Dr. Dre?,” commending Dr. Dre for his huge gift to U.S.C., but questioning why he didn’t choose to give his money to a “needy black college.” Dillard University, which is a liberal arts HBCU located in New Orleans, has a rich history and could have no doubt used $70 million, as I know many other schools could.

The fact that Dr. Dre chose to give the money to U.S.C. though should not be up for debate, however. It’s his money…..he can do what he wants with it. I believe that relationships matter and clearly this was a relationship decision. He entered into this decision with his business associate, whom he apparently trusts.

Oh, let’s move on to your boy Floyd Mayweather Jr.

People started trippin’ after hearing that Mayweather allegedly dropped a $5.9 million bet on the Miami Heat for Game 7 of the recent Heat vs. Pacers game on Monday night.

Upon hearing this, I thought it took some real guts to take that kind of risk with that kind of money, but then I quickly came to the realization that Mayweather has that kind of money to risk, so to him $5.9 million is probably like $100 to the average person.

What tripped me though about this issue was that there were many people who called him an idiot and stupid for “wasting” that sort of money. Well first off, it was a bet, which means he would only part ways with it if he were to lose. Secondly, he can do what he wants with his money…..win or lose.

BTW…..He took a risk and it paid off for him.

Self-righteous folks irk me. You can’t tell me what you would do if you had that sort of money if you don’t have it.

We all waste money somehow. The only difference is, Mayweather’s money is just longer than most people and his risk taking gets more publicity than ours.

Ever bought a lottery ticket?

Ever went to Starbucks or a high end restaurant?

You could have saved that money, but you chose to do what you wanted with it to satisfy your cravings or self-interest.

The same is applicable to Dr. Dre and Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

I don’t care if you buy a pair of Jordan’s with your money. I don’t care if you buy a new Bugatti with your money and wake up in it tomorrow morning. I don’t care whether you donate your money to the specific cause you are an advocate for. I don’t care whether you spend $1 million dollars on lottery tickets or at the slot machine at Harrah’s casino.

It’s your money and you can do whatever you want with it.

For all others, I say get your own money and do what you want with it. Stop trippin’…..It ain’t your money anyway.

Jeffrey L. Boney serves as Associate Editor and is an award-winning journalist for the Houston Forward Times newspaper. Jeffrey is a Next Generation Project Fellow, dynamic, international speaker, experienced entrepreneur, business development strategist and Founder/CEO of the Texas Business Alliance. If you would like to request Jeffrey as a speaker, you can reach him at
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